Very weird question. I was just cleaning my bunny ears cactus with a small paintbrush. I was a good foot away from it but all of a sudden my arms were itching like they were on fire and I had to go wash them off and change my shirt. It hasn't helped. I had to take a Benadryl. Still red and itching like crazy. Is there something allergic about that cactus? Didn't even get a thorn in me. Just brushed it off from a distance of a foot away. So weird!
okay this happened to me with mine the first time i was carrying it around after taking the packaging off! i was definitely closer than you were but still, i felt super itchy on my arms and had to change. i haven’t experienced it since, but it was definitely enough to make me nervous around it! but from a more practical stand point, it is possible there’s something in it you’re allergic to. those itty bitty thorns can get flicked off pretty easily and could have gotten into your arms without you noticing. have you had a similar reaction before? is this something you’ve done before? or was this the first time?
0 Me gusta I just remembered that I had the same reaction months ago while working on a cactus and I actually think it may have been that one. I didn't touch any of the thorns unless when I was brushing them they flew off onto me but I was a good foot away. It's been a half hour and a Benadryl and my arms are still burning. That cactus is going to have to stay dirty no more cleaning that one.
2 Me gusta yeah it sounds like an allergic reaction to something on this specific cactus. i would avoid touching it as much as possible. usually most meds kick in within 30 minutes, but it may take a little longer for the Benadryl to work. if you haven’t already, i would hop in the shower and wash your arms really well with some mild (think a Dove bar) soap. it could also help to put some mild moisturizer on afterwards. have you taken the full dose of benadryl? if not, take the full dose. if you’re still having this in a few hours (or if you start feeling worse/it spreads/you get hives/have trouble breathing) you will need to go get seen at an urgent care. i’m not saying this to scare you at all, that’s just typical protocol for allergic reactions!
0 Me gusta Thank you. It calmed down a lot but one bath and two showers later I can still feel just the tiniest bit of tingling in my arms. I am never ever touching that cactus again. Lol
1 me gusta sounds like the best course of action!!!
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How long have you had the cactus? Is it possible there was cross contamination between your tools for one plant and the tools for this one, transferring something like the sap onto the cactus? I’ve heard about dieffenbachia, aglaonema, peace lily, Pothos, and philodendrons having a type of sap with micro crystals that not everyone reacts to, but those that do describe it as broken fiberglass in their hands. And ficus elastica has a sap that’s latex, so people with latex allergies should avoid them. Hope this helps.
1 me gusta Thanks. I haven't had a problem with any of my other plants. But I do remember I had this happen a while ago cleaning a cactus and I'm thinking it may have been that one. Weirdest thing ever. It must've been as I was brushing it some of the little Things came off and landed on me or something. I can't figure it out. But I'm certainly not doing it again. Lol
0 Me gusta And that's a perfect description. It feels just like fiberglass on my arms. I have poured water all over them and wiped them down with alcohol wipes and that's exactly how it feels. But I don't have a latex allergy so go figure.
0 Me gusta Hmm. Well, if it persists, perhaps look up “what to do if calcium oxalate crystals touched my skin?” It’s possible the cactus has something similar, I guess, or you have a very specific allergy to this cactus. I read before that you should scrub your hands thoroughly with water for like ten minutes and lots of soap if you do have a reaction, but if it doesn’t go away, you might wanna go to a doctor for it.
1 me gusta Best case scenario if you weren’t wearing gloves is that it’s just the spikes from the cactus. Sorry you’re having such a reaction. I hope you figure it out.
Glochids! Opuntia are evil, and I learned this by putting a small “spineless” prickly pear pad in my coat pocket (pictured); it shot glochids into my leg, across my stomach, and then I must have touched my face… My whole body tingled. I still have scars on my leg.
🙊 yikes!!
1 me gusta It was kind of a joke fueled by mania.
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It’s likely the bristles of the toothbrush flicking the spines all over everything without you noticing. The bristles have a tiny catapult effect without using much force. I use toothbrush brush bristles to splatter paint. It’s highly effective and splatters like a tiny paint ball shotgun. The spines can cross contaminate your skin, clothes and the surface area.
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“Glochids, those tiny barbed hairs, are the plant's defense mechanism. While the cactus itself isn't toxic, these can cause skin irritation. This fact often leads to the misconception that the plant is harmful. In reality, it's the physical irritation, not chemical, that's the issue. Remember, handling with care is key to enjoying this quirky plant without the ouch.” It’s happened to me before too. You can barely see the little microscopic thorn hairs but when they get on your skin, YIKES. I’d wear gloves when you handle it and stop brushing it.
0 Me gusta I'm sure that's exactly what happened. And I finally remembered that the last time I had this problem it was when I repotted that cactus. It can stay in my window but I'm not touching it again. Lol
1 me gusta lol - good luck! Hope you feel better soon!
0 Me gusta Thanks everyone!!
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